Collapsible boat



Aug. 26, 1930. I SCHEMANN 1,774,336

GOLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Aug 21, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Fr'zzrzk Sch z'erzzzmrz BY ATTORNIJY Aug. 26, 1930. F. SCHIEMANN 1,774,336

COLLAPS IBLE BOAT Filed Aug. 21, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eli-q INVENTOR Frank 8c marm a wfimfiw Pi! B 1 ATTORN Aug. 26, 1930. F. SCHIEMANN r 1,774,336

VCOLLYAPSIBLE BOAT Fild Aug. 21, 1-929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5- INYENTOR Wank Schumann 25 ticularly set forth.

Patented Aug. 26, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAJPSIBLE BOAT Application filed August 21, 1929. Serial No. 387,336.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in collapsible boats.

As is well known, many attempts have been made to produce collapsible boats but for various reasons none of these have made commercial successes. The cause for the failure lies in their clumsiness, during collapsing and again building up, and in their excessive weight. 7

Various features are proposed whereby a collapsible boat may be made very light, rigid, firm and safe during use. When so constructed there will be a large commercial demand for the same since it is known that the potential market for a boat of this type is very great. The arrangement permits for easy folding and when in folded condition takes up very little room.

For further comprehension of the inven- 2 tion, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following de scription and accompanying drawings, and to the appended-claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more par- In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boat constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 shown witl out the seats.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the foldable skeleton bottom framework, per se of the boat.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary showing of Fig. 3 in the act of collapsing or extending Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3, with a portion of a central transverse brace used in the boat also shown.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing only a portion of the skeleton of the boat.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2 showing only a portion of the skeleton of the boat.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8'8 of Fig. 2 and showing only a portion of the skeleton of the boat.

Fig. 9 shows the parts of Fig. 8 in a collapsed position.

- Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the bottom framework shownin Fig. 3 in the act of being engaged in an intermediate transverse brace used in the boat.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on theline 11-11 of Fig. 2 but showing only a portion of the skeleton.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the Is)tern or bow of the skeleton portion'of the oat.

Fig. 13 is a view of a portion of Fig. 12

showing ribs applied.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view, of Fig. 13.

Fig.15isa perspective detailed view of the clips used in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1616 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 17 is an enlarged detailed view of one of tile rib holding clips shown applied with 21 1'1 The reference numeral 20 indicates generally a waterproof container made from flexible sheet material and having an open top portion, and formed in the shape of a boat. The edges around this opening are clamped to a frame 21 hereinafter fully described. Seats 22 are shown within the boat.

A foldable skeleton bottom framework is positioned in the boat and shown in detail in Fig. 3, and consists of two similar sections pivotally connected at their inner ends and arranged to maintain a horizontal aligned position, or to-be' folded by moving the inner ends upwards as shown in Fig. 4. Each of these sections consists ofwa pair of par,-. allel side-forming members 23 attached to transverse floor-forming strips 24, and a stern or bow-forming member 25 depending upon which of the ends of the boat constitutes the stern or the bow. The side-forming members of one of the sections is disposed on the outersides of the side-forming members of theother of the sections. The inner ends of the'sections slightly overlap asmay be seen 7 in Figs. 3 or 4. The pivotal connection is 'accomplished'by a bolt 26.

One of the transverse floor-forming strips 24 ofeach of the sections is located on the ends extending past, the pivot and pass over the side-forming members 23 of the other section. This construction allows the sections to assume aligned horizontal positions and holds them against downward further bending but permits upward bending of the inner ends as shown in Fig. 4.

Each bow or stern-forming member 25 protrudes under two or" the transverse floorforming strips 24, and has an outward directed hook 27 connected with the inner of the two transverse floor-forming strips. The outer of the two transverse floor-forming strips is provided with outward projecting pegs 28.

The skeleton frame of the boat is composed of a central transverse brace 29, and trans verse braces 30 and two intermediate transverse braces 31 and 32 between each of the end and the central brace. These various transverse braces are connected with the bot-- tom framework, and forms the shape of the boat.

The central transverse brace 29 consists of a horizontal base rod 33 provided with hooks 34 adapted to engage the bolt 26 used for holding the sections of the bottom framework together. Vertical rods 35 are pivoted near the ends of the base rod 33, and near their tops pivotally connect with a horizontal top rod 36. An inclined rod 37 is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon each of the vertical rods 35. The inner ends of the inclined rods are provided with pivoted hooks 38 capable of engaging eyelets upon the horizontal top rod for firmly latching the parts as shown in Fig. 6.

The bottom free ends of the vertical rods 35, the outer ends of the inclined rods 37', and the ends of the rod 36 are provided with rib clips 39. In Fig. 17 a detail of these rib clips has been shown and it may be gathered that these rib clips are intended to engage the ribs 40 of the boat. The clips connect with screw portions 41 providing for the attaching upon the ends of the rods.

Each of the intermediate transverse braces 31, that is the braces immediately next to the central brace 29 consists of a horizontal brace rod 42 supporting at its ends vertical rods 43 and inclined rods 44. These vertical and inclined rods are pivotally connected on the rod 42. The bottom ends of the rods 43 and the outer ends of the rods 44 are provided with rod clips 39 for the same purpose as before described.

Each of the intermediate transverse braces 32 adjacent the end braces 30 consists of a horizontal base rod 45 with a bottom cut-out 46 closed by a strap 47 to provide an aperture for receiving an inwardly directed hook 48 attached upon the bow or stern-forming member 25. In Fig. 3 this hook is clearly shown. Loop brackets 49 are also attached upon the base rod 45 and are engageable with the pegs 28. The pegs 28 and the hook 48 coact for holding the transverse brace 32 in a firm and upright condition.

The transverse brace 32 is also provided with vertical rods 50 pivotally connected upon the rod 45, and near its top pivotally connected with a horizontal top rod 51. An inclined rod 52 is pivotally mounted intermediately upon the vertical rods 50 and has pivoted hooks 53 upon its inner end for engaging an eye member upon the horizontal rod 51. The lower ends of the rods 50, the outer ends of rods 52, and the ends of rod 51 is provided with red clips 39 for the same purpose as previously described.

Inflated longitudinal members 70 may be placed between inclined rods 37, vertical rods 50 and horizontal rods 51 to insure the buoyancy of the boat.

In Fig. 9, the transverse brace has been shown in a collapsed condition. The centralbrace 29 may be similarly collapsed. For accomplishing this folding, the hooks 53 or 38 as the case may be are disengaged from the horizontal rod and then the folding may be accomplished. The top ends of the vertical rods 35, and 50 are provided with cut-out portions 54 for the purpose herinafter further specified.

Each of the end braces as shown in Fig. 11

consists of a vertical rod having a loop bracket 56 at its bottom end for engaging a hook 57 mounted upon the bow or sternforming member 25. A plurality of horizontal rods 57 are fixed upon the rod 55. T he top of the rod and the ends of the rods 57 are provided with rib clips A cut-water member 58 is attached upon each outer end or the bow or stern-forming member 25. Braces 59 are connected between the top ends of the cut-water member 58 and the bow or sternt'orming member 25. A plurality of boat ribs 40 have knobs 60 mounted on their free ends for engaging in slots 61 formed in clips 62 attached upon the cut-water member 58. The ribs intermediate of their ends engaged in the clips 39 of the various rods previously described. In Fig. 13 the ribs 40 are shown extending from the cut-water member at which vicinity they are connected with the clips 62.

Each of the sides of the frame 21 consists of a bar (53 arranged in the cut-out portions 54 of the various vertical rods. T he edges of the waterproof container 20 are wound around these bars. The bars are then clamped in place by strips (34 which are arranged t'or engaging upon the bars, and which are attached upon the vertical rods 35, 43 and 50. ing clamping screws (35 a re provided for this purpose. The strips 64 conclude the form of the frame 21.

In the normal condition of the boat as seen in Fig. 1 it is ready for use. It may be collapsed by first removing th seats and then removing the screws 65 so that the bars 63 are loose and the waterproof container also loose. Then the hooks 38 on the central transverse brace 29 may be disengaged from the eyelets so .that the brace is loose. Similarlyv the hooks '53. upon the intermediate braces 32 may be disengaged from theeyelets so that the intermediate braces are loose. Then the ribs may be forced out of the rib clips 39 of the various braces. Ihen the members 29, 31, 30 and 32 may be removed. Next the keel skeleton may be folded upwardly at its center as shown in F 4 andremoved from the waterproof container 20. The various transverse braces may then be collapsed for taking up a minimum quantity of room, and the parts which formed the boat may be placed in a neat bundle and tied together. Very obviously, the construction is simple and quite light. At the same time, in assembled condition it is very rigid.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the ri ht is reserved to all chan es and modifications coming withinthc scope of the in vention as defined in the appended claims.

laying thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A collapsible boat comprising awaterproof flexible container with a portion at the top open, and a foldable skeleton framework consisting of a center transverse brace, two

end transverse braces, two transversebraces between the end brace and the central brace, and a foldable skeleton bottom framework, consisting of two sectons pivotally connected at their inner ends,each section consisting of parallel side-forming members, the sideforming members of one of the sections being disposed on the sides of the side-forming member of the other section, a bolt passing through the side-forming, members of both sections, transverse floor forming strips, one of the transverse floor-fornnng strips of each section being located on the ends of the sideforming members extending past the pivot, bow and stern-forming members each passing under two of the transverse floor strips, and an outward directed hook secured to the bow or stern-forming member engageable on the inner of the two transverse strips for holding it in boat form.

2. Inthe skeleton of a collapsible boat a central transverse brace comprising, a horizontal base rod, vertical rods pivotally mounted on the horizontal base rod, a horizontal top rod pivotally mounted on the vertical rods, an inclined rod-pivotally mounted on each vertical rod intermediate thereto, hooks pivoted on the inner ends of the inclined rods engageable on eyelets protruding from the top horizontal rod, and clips secured to the certain ends of the rods for holding ribs.

3; In the skeleton of a collapsible boat a central transverse brace comprising, a horizontal base rod, vertical rods pivotally mounted on the horizontal base rod, a horizontal top rod pivotally mounted on the vertical rods, an inclined rod pivotally mounted on each vertical rod intermediate thereto, means for connecting the inner end of the inclined ner ends of the inclined rods engageable on pegs protruding from the top horizontal rod, clips secured to the bottom ends of the vertical rods, the tops of which are formed with cut-out portions.

5. A. collapsible boat comprising a waterproof flexible container with a portion at the top open, and a foldable skeleton framework consisting of a center transverse brace, two end transverse braces, two transverse braces between the end and the central braces, and a foldable skeleton bottom framework, consisting. of two sections pivotally connected at their inner ends, each section consisting of parallel side-forming members, the side forming members of one of the sections being disposed on the sides of the side-forming member of the other section, a bolt passing through the side-forming members of both sections, transverse floor-forming strips, one of the transverse floor-formim strips of each section being located on the ends of the sideformingmembers extending past the pivot, bow and stern-forming members each passing under two of the transverse floor strips, an

outward directed hook secured to the bow or st-ern-form1ng member engageable on the 1nner of the two transverse strips, an inwardly d1rected hook secured to the bow or stem-V forming members engageable in the strip aperture formed in the transverse brace adsignature.

FRANK SCHIEMANN. 

